Humidifier for internal-combustion engines



W. H. McBRIDE. HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL comausnom ENGINES.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. 5,1918.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

UNITED STATES P A TENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MCBRIDE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ZACHARIAH H. HUGHES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

I-IUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

To all to hem it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM H. MCBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Humidifiers for Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Vaporizers or humidifying devices, and more particularly to such as are used adjunctively with the usual carbureter or charge forming device employed in the operation of an internal combustion engine, whereby to supply moisture-laden air to the explosive mixture.

It is known that, under certain conditions, higher efficiency is attained in the operation of an internal combustion engine if water is supplied in proper proportion and in a vaporous state to the combustion chamber thereof, the resultant advantage being due to the effect of the moisture in keeping down the temperature to a desirable degree and in the prevention and elimination of carbon deposit in the combustion chamber and in and about the spark plugs.

The present inventionhas for its objects to secure perfect vaporization of the water and saturation of the air therewith, to provide for the automatic regulation of the device in operation, to simplify the structure and minimize the cost of manufacture, and to attain certain advantages as will more fully appear from the following description.

The invention consists in the parts and in the combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, and afterward pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a practical embodiment of the-invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device as in action;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom end view of the float cylinder; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view showing the correlation of the air-diffusing bag and the corrugated collar which is interposed befunnel extension 3, whose mouth 4; is disposed upward, and through which the air is taken into the chamber 2, and also through whlch the water is supplied to the receptacle or reservoir as will be presently described.

Attached to the underside of the intermediate body portion 1 is the water receptacle or reservoir 5, while on the upper side is the vaporizing chamber 6, each of which preferably comprises an ordinary commercial glass lantern globe, substantially as shown.

For the attachment of the globes 5 and 6, the body portion 1 is provided with flared flanges 7 and 8, respectively, and affording seats, there being suitable packing gaskets or washers 9, 10, interposed as cushions and to effect a sealed joint.

The body portion 1 is provided with a partition plate 11 having an axial enlarge ment or boss 12 which has a screw-threaded bore therethrough. Attached at one end to this boss, as by screw-threaded engagement with the threaded bore thereof, is a tube 13, whose opposite end is screw-threaded, as at 141, and, projected through an aperture 15 in a cap member 16 and having a nut 17 thereon with an interposed rubber or fiber washer 18 whereby to make a sealed joint and clamp the shell 5 between the cap member 16 and the body member 1. This nut 17, as shown, is a part of a petcock 19 which is used to drain the reservoir, which is permitted by the provision of an aperture 20 in the tube 13 near the inner face of the cap member 16, and through which aperture 20 the water is taken up through the tube during the operation of the device, as will be hereinafter described.

The cap member 16 is obviously provided with a flared seating flange 21 for the corresponding end of the shell 5 and a'suitable gasket or washer 22 is interposed to aiford a cushion and seal.

At the outer end of the shell 6 is a cap member 23, similar to the cap 16, the same being fastened by a rod 24 having a head 25 on its outer end for engagement with the cap member, and provided at its inner end with screw-threads 26 to engage a threaded axial bore in the end of a tubular extension 27 of the tube 13. Obviously, a suitable gasket or washer 28 is provided between the cap member 23 and the corresponding end of the shell 6.

Communicating with the cap member 23 is a pipe 29 which may be connected to the intake manifold (not shown) of the engine, preferably at a point between the point of connection therewith of the carbureter and the inlet to the combustion chamber, so that the moisture-laden air is commingled with the explosive charge in the manifold before entering the combustion chamber. Obviously, however, as far as the present invention is concerned, the humidified air may be taken into the combustion chamber inde pendently of the charge from the carbureter.

The conducting pipe 29 is provided with a suitable cut off valve 30, and the same may be controlled from the drivers seat through the medium of a rod 31 attached to a lever arm or crank 32 on the valve.

On the upper side of the partition plate 11 is an annular flange or collar 33, and mounted on said plate 11, inside said collar 33, is a cylinder 34 constituting a float chamber. At the lower end of this cylinder is an outwardly disposed flange or collar 35 whose peripheral face fits the collar 33 snugly. At regular intervals throughout, the cylinder is provided with radial grooves 36 in its lower end, each of which communicates with one of a series of vertical grooves 37 provided in the peripheral face of the flange 35, thereby affording passageways for the water, as will presently more fully appear.

Mounted loosely on the rod 24 is a cork or other suitable float 38, between whose peripheral face and the cylinder 34, sufficient clearance is allowed to afford it freedom in movement. On the under side of this float are diametrically disposed, depending ears 39 to which links 40 are pivotally attached. The links 40 are in turn pivotally attached to the outer ends of levers 41 of the first order, which are fulcrumed, as at 42, between ears 43 on the tubular extension 27 and have their inner ends projected into said tubular extension which is slotted for the purpose as at 44. V

The inner end portions of the levers 41 are preferably rounded, as at 45, so as to engage, with easy rolling effect, in slots 46 provided therefor in a valve-block 47 which is slidably fittedin said tubular extension 27.

In the tube 13 is a bushing 48 having a proportionately restricted bore and constituting a nozzle, and with the end of which the seating portion 49 of the valve-block 47 engages to check the flow therethrough when the float is elevated as the water reaches its working level in the float chamber and shell 6. In the region of the nozzle 48, the tubular extension 27 is provided with suitable openings 50 to afford communication with the float chamber.

Surrounding the float chamber is an annular bag 51 whose inner marginal portion 52 is made fast throughout to the outer face of the collar 33, and whose outer marginal portion 53 is either made fast to the end portion of the shell 6 or clamped under the gasket or washer 10. This bag is made of suitable cloth or fabric of close weave and very fine mesh so as to inflate with air under pressure, but through which the air is diffused in the shell 6.

The peculiar mounting of the bag affords an annular mouth 54 therefor; and, to provide for communication between the bag and the air-supply chamber 2, the partition plate 11 has an annular series of apertures 55 therein and coinciding with said mouth.

The device may be mounted in any suitable or convenient place, but, in practice, it is preferably mounted on the engine frame, and for this purpose the intermediate body portion 1 is provided with a suitable bracket or extension 56 which is apertured, as at 57, for the reception of suitable securing bolts.

In the use of the device, the receptacle or reservoir 5 is filled with water through the funnel extension 3 substantially to the level shown in the drawing. After the engine is in operation, and preferably after it has become heated somewhat, the valve 30 is opened, whereby the suction through the pipe 29 causes a vacuum in the shell 6, the effect of which is to draw air into the chamher 2 and through the apertures 55, thereby inflating the bag 51, through which the air is diffused into the shell 6. The suction also draws the water from the reservoir 5 into the tube 13 and up through the nozzle 48, whence it passes into the float cylinder 34; and the flow of the water continues until the water in the cylinder reaches a level suflicient to raise the float'and thereby effect the closing of the nozzle by the valve-block 47. The water also passes into the shell 6 through the passages 36 and 37 and immerses the inflated bag 51; and the air which is diffused through the bag thoroughly aerates the water surrounding the bag, thereby causing the water to bubble and froth up to a relatively higher altitude in the shell. Vapor is thereby created above and taken in a thoroughly commingled state with the air into the pipe 29 through which the moisture-laden air is conducted to the engine.

T 0 prevent any liquid from passing out with the air, a baflie plate 58 is provided in the upper part of the shell 6. Thisplate, as shown, is provided with a restricted central aperture 59, and itis preferably dished, so that any condensation which might occur on the upper side thereof will readily drain into the chamber beneath. To afford a clear passageway for air and water between the cylinder 34 and. the bag 51, a corrugated sleeve 60 is slipped over said cylinder 34. This prevents the adhesion of the bag to the circumferential face of the -1,seo;114

cylinder and provides,.in effect, a multiplicity of vertical passages.

By the construction herein shown and described, the predetermined quantity of water needed in the vaporizing chamber .is regularly maintained and controlled according to the suction of the engine while running, for it is obvious that as soon as the level of the water falls, the float 38 is accordingly lowered and the valve-block 47 is moved out of closing relation to the nozzle 48. Then, as soon as the water again reaches its working level, the valve-block automatically closes the nozzle.

As to the levels reached by the water in the float chamber 34 and vaporizing chamber 6, respectively, it may be here stated that the level of the water indicated by the broken horizontal lines in the two chambers, as shown, is the approximate level of the water just after the operation of the device is suspended by the closing of the cutoff valve 30. When the latter is open and the device is in operation, the only real water level is the one maintained in the float chamber 34:, as the water in the vaporizing chamber 6 becomes aerated by the air passing through the meshes of the bag 51 and froths up to a higher altitude, which varies according to the suction of the engine. In short, while the device is operating the float chamber 34 might be described as an intermediate reservoir drawing its supply from the main reservoir 5 and feeding the water through the passages 36,. 37, over the annular flange 33, and on to the bag 51. This process keeps the fabric of the bag saturated with water, and the office of the float chamber or so-called intermediate reservoir is only to maintain the supply of water for this saturation as the air passing through the meshes of the bag uses it up.

The present invention is distinguished from those devices which merely pass air through a body of water, in that the air is passed through a moistened fabric, and, in operation, the main space in the upper shell is filled to a certain extent with froth or foam and the fabric is kept moist by the breaking up of the bubbles thereon and the supply of water which is being gradually fed out of the float chamber as above described.

It is, of course, understood that after the operation of the device is suspended for a considerable period the water will drain back into the main reservoir 5, it being only retained in the float chamber and vaporizing chamber as long as the vacuum is maintained above it.

WVhile the use of commercial lantern globes is desirable in the construction of the reservoir and vaporizing compartment of the device, particularly in minimizing the cost of manufacture and also to enable the working-of the device to be observed, the structure is not to be limited to that shown, as it is obvious that the device admits of considerable modification in this respect and in many other Ways without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a humidifying device, an air-supply chamber, a reservoir below and open to communication with said air-supply chamber, a vaporizing chamber above said air-supply chamber, an air-diffusing strainer in said vaporizing chamber, a pipe communicating at one end with the lower portion of said reservoir and at its opposite end with said vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level in said vaporizing chamber, and a suction pipe communicating with the upper portion of said vaporizing chamber.

2. In a humidifying device, an air-supply chamber, a reservoir below and open to communication with said air-supply chamber, a vaporizing chamber above said air-supply chamber, an inflatable air-diffusing bag in said vaporizing chamber, said bag having open communication with said air-supply chamber, a pipe communicating at one end with the lower portion of said reservoir and at its opposite end with said vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level in said vaporizing chamber, a valve for controlling the flow through said pipe and operated by said float, and a suction pipe communicating with the upper portion of said vaporizing chamber.

3. In a humidifying device, an air supply chamber, a reservoir below and open to communication with said air supply chamber, a vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level in said vaporizing chamber including a float chamber, said float chamber having open communication at its lower end with said vaporizing chamber, an annular inflatable air diffusing bag in said vaporizing chamber and surround-, ing said float chamber, said bag having open communication with said air supply chamber, and a suction pipe communicating with the upper portion of said vaporizing chamber.

4. In a humidifying device, an air supply chamber, a reservoir below and open to communication with said air supply chamber, a vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level in said vaporizing chamber including a float chamber, said float chamber having open communication at its lower end with said vaporizing chamber, an annular inflatable air difl'using bag in said vaporizing chamber and surrounding said float chamber, said bag having open communication with said air supply cham-- her, a vertically corrugated sleeve interand an air-diffusing, cloth bag subjected to saturation in said vaporizing chamber.

6. In a humidifying device, a vaporizing chamber, means for supplying Water to the lower portion of said chamber, and an airdiffusing, cloth bag subjected to saturation by the Water in said chamber.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 3rd day of December, 1918.

WILLIAM H. MCBRIDE. 

